Efforts on to cut mother-child mortality rate in eastern zone

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Public health officials in eastern Nangarhar province said on Sunday efforts had been stepped up to reduce the mother and child mortality rates under a regular programme.
The Public Health Department has established a centre at the main Jalalabad hospital, where midwives, nurses and female graduates from Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan would be trained.
The Ferozuddin Feroz Training Centre was inaugurated on Sep 10 by delegates from the Ministry of Public Health and officials from the eastern provinces.
Public Health Director Dr. Najibullah Kamawal said on the occasion, this training centre with modern equipment was built with financial assistance from USIAD.
The centre has been built at the Jalalabad Civil Hospital, according to Kamawal, who said with its establishment, a venue has been created for hosting training sessions, workshops and seminars.
At this new center, midwives, doctors and female graduates will be trained. It will provide health facilities and work to save the lives of mothers and babies at childbirth in remote areas.
In the past, 1,600 of 100,000 women lost theri lives during pragancy, but the figure has been brought down to 327 and efforts are on to cut this level to zero.
Abdul Wali Aziz, public relation director, emphasised on officials of the eastern zone to take good advantage of this centre.
He said knowledgeable midwife or doctor needed to be able to save a mother’s life, and the centre would meet the requirement and would work for the reduction of mother-child mortality in the eastern provinces.
sa/nh/mud